Principals not to blame

Anyone who is honest enough will be willing to agree that indiscipline in our schools has been caused mainly by two elements — irresponsible parents and foolish Ministry of Education officials!

Proof of the former is easy. A considerable number of today’s parents are too young, too busy, too lazy or too ignorant to do what is necessary to cause well-disciplined children to be sent to the schools. Additionally, some parents have totally abdicated the responsibility of child rearing; leaving it to the teachers, whom they will later blame if anything goes wrong.

The second and latter element has evolved over time. It stems from a number of Ministry of Education policies that have eroded entirely any control that principal and teachers formerly had over their institutions. The Ministry of Education has accepted and codified a set of rules that have little to do with good sense or good education practice. The principals have been stymied in their attempts to run their schools.

Schools no longer give detentions. Why? Parents say they’re an inconvenience. The parents want twenty four hours’ prior notice. The Ministry agrees.

Disruptive students must not be put out of class. They must be put to stand at the door — where they can continue to disrupt the class — The Ministry agrees.

Students must not be put to stand on the desk or to kneel in front of the class; because it’s humiliating. The Ministry agrees.

Principals must not flog even the most undisciplined child because that is violence against the person. The Ministry agrees.

All principals have evidence that the use of cell phones by students at school is distracting, disruptive and dangerous. But, the parents want their children to have them. The Ministry agrees.

The Ministry recently introduced new rules for the suspension of students. The amount of paperwork required has prompted a number of principals not to even bother. But, the Minister then was able to boast, “Suspensions are down by fifty percent!” and pat herself on the back.

Additionally, it should be noted that according to law, only the Ministry can expel a student from school . . . how is it then that indiscipline is the fault of the principals?

I resent the fact that the Minister and members of the Teaching Service Commission could sit in front of the parliamentary committee and attempt to isolate themselves from the monster that they themselves have created by putting the blame on the defenceless principals.

It is really very sad that both the Ministry of Education and the Teaching Service Commission have, because of their inefficiencies, caused indiscipline to rear its ugly head in all of our schools. It is worse that they now blame principals for what their maladministration has caused.

PETER J THOMAS

Blue Range